Jebb (2006) tells of the struggle in the Kimberley between the White Bosses and the Aboriginal Pastoral Workers and spells out in no uncertain manner how badly they were treated. (p. 100). Kelly (1985) in her book ‘The Long Road Back’ suggests in more detail that: “…the attitude of White settlers towards Aborigines resulted in beatings, killings, rape and general exploitation …….” (p. 115). This may not have happened on every station, however the fact was not only were aboriginal workers not been paid decent wages but also their working conditions were deplorable. In 1946, Eight hundred Aboriginal workers went on strike in the Pilbara, walking off the job for better pay and conditions. This would precipitate change throughout the Industry over the next 20 years. Dorothy Hewat described the WA event in her poem ‘Clancy Dooley and Don McLeod’. McLeod suggested that the Kimberley aboriginals were supposed to join in on this strike. They never did. (The Pilbara Strike, 1946) This strike predated the famous Wave Hill strike in the Northern Territory. Thalia (2006) writes about the Wave Hill episode: “… the Gurindji people were aware that their future not only hinged on wages and the needs of managers. The Aboriginal communities required a continuous association with the land”. (p. 2). This demand for land was wide spread and is portrayed in the lyrics podcasted in ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ by Paul Kelly. The Kimberley had no Don McLeod and so it took another few years before real change occurred. Haebich (1992) writes:
“Aborigines were now expressing their opposition to the increase restrictions
on their personal liberties.” (p. 125). They were starting to realise their
worth to the pastoralists. It was Coombs (1994) who referred to the equal pay
dispute as significant because it was the demands of Aborigines for equal pay
and the intervention of the Arbitration Court in 1966 that made equal pay
effective. (p. 18). However, there were other factors besides the
wage issue that may have caused the change as Thalia (2006) points out: “The
Equal Wages Decision was just one factor in a range of transformations. These
included changing work practices, such as the introduction of aerial and
motorised mustering, a change in government policy …, conditions of severe
drought and the 1970s world-wide recession that deflated beef prices”. (Para.10)
An ABC podcast hosted by Bill Bunbury (2002) also allows the Kimberly stories to be told and the Photo Album by Lovell brings these stories alive and are worth veiwing. After the 1966 wage case large numbers of aboriginal people were being moved off their lands and drifting into the near by towns.For example Thalia states: “The township of Fitzroy Crossing became akin to a refugee camp for Aboriginal people from stations throughout the Fitzroy River Valley”. The stations just held a few aboriginal workers back who they thought were worth keeping the rest were displaced finding themselves in towns such as Broome and Derby. The welfare system was born. (Word count 500)
Wage CaseJebb (2006) tells of the struggle in the Kimberley between the White
Bosses and the Aboriginal Pastoral Workers and spells out in no uncertain
manner how badly they were treated. (p. 100). Kelly (1985) in her book ‘The
Long Road Back’ suggests in more detail that: “…the attitude of White settlers
towards Aborigines resulted in beatings, killings, rape and general
exploitation …….” (p. 115). This may not
have happened on every station, however the fact was not only were aboriginal
workers not been paid decent wages but also their working conditions were
deplorable.
In 1946, Eight hundred
Aboriginal workers went on strike in the Pilbara, walking off the job for
better pay and conditions. This would precipitate
change throughout the Industry over the next 20 years. Dorothy Hewat described
the WA event in her poem ‘Clancy Dooley and Don McLeod’. McLeod suggested that
the Kimberley aboriginals were supposed to join in on this strike. They never
did. (The Pilbara Strike, 1946) This
strike predated the famous Wave Hill strike in the Northern Territory. Thalia (2006) writes about the Wave
Hill episode: “… the Gurindji people were aware that their future not only
hinged on wages and the needs of managers. The Aboriginal communities required
a continuous association with the land”. (p. 2). This demand for land was wide
spread and is portrayed in the lyrics podcasted in ‘From Little Things Big
Things Grow’ by Paul Kelly. The Kimberley had no Don McLeod and
so it took another few years before real change occurred.
Haebich (1992) writes:
“Aborigines were now expressing their opposition to the increase restrictions
on their personal liberties.” (p. 125). They were starting to realise their
worth to the pastoralists. It was Coombs (1994) who referred to the equal pay
dispute as significant because it was the demands of Aborigines for equal pay
and the intervention of the Arbitration Court in 1966 that made equal pay
effective. (p. 18). However, there were other factors besides the
wage issue that may have caused the change as Thalia (2006) points out: “The
Equal Wages Decision was just one factor in a range of transformations. These
included changing work practices, such as the introduction of aerial and
motorised mustering, a change in government policy …, conditions of severe
drought and the 1970s world-wide recession that deflated beef prices”. (Para.10)
An ABC podcast hosted by Bill Bunbury (2002) also allows the Kimberly
stories to be told and the Photo Album
by Lovell brings these stories alive and are worth veiwing. After the 1966 wage case large numbers of aboriginal
people were being moved off their lands and drifting into the near by towns.For example Thalia states: “The township of Fitzroy Crossing became
akin to a refugee camp for Aboriginal people from stations throughout the
Fitzroy River Valley”. The stations just
held a few aboriginal workers back who they thought were worth keeping the
rest were displaced finding themselves in towns such as Broome and Derby.
The welfare system was born. (Word count 500)
REFERENCES
Bunbury, B. (2003). ABC Podcast. Retrieved from: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2003/12/hht_20031221.mp3
Haebich, A. (1992). For Their Own Good: Aborigines and Government in the South West of Western Australia. 1900-1940. Perth: UWA Press.
Coombs, H. C. (1994). Aboriginal Autonomy. Australian Print Group.
Jebb, M.A. (2002). Blood, Sweat and Welfare: A history of White Bosses and Aboriginal Pastoral Workers. University of Western Australia
Press.
Kelly, P. (1985). From little things big things grow. Retrieved from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/paul_kelly/from_little_things_big_things_grow.html
Kelly, S.M. (1980). The Long Road Back. Koon Wah Printing Pte. Ltd.
Lovell, S. Gibb river road Photo Album. Retrieved from: http://www.gibbriverroad.net/sam-lovell.html
Pilbara Strike (1946 – 1949). Retrieved from: http://www.reasoninrevolt.net.au/biogs/E000282b.htm
Thalia, A. (2006). Equal pay but no Jobs. Retrieved from: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4839